The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1887-07-07
CHAPTER II,

Not a word of this did dare breathe 70
my father As wo were seated on the
veranda, before retiring for the night, he
referred 10 the departure, saying, every
rebel should do likewise. il they were not
satisfied with the best government on earth
let them try to overthrow it. They would
soon find an end to their boasting. He little
knew, at that moment, that in my sisters
hand lay the little red and white rosette
which she had detached from her parasol,
seeking the first opportunity to send il 70
her hot-hcaded lover as the ''charm in the
hour Of danger"
The heavy odor OF the red and white June
roses was waited on the night air, and my
sister plucked two Of their buds, the red and
the white and fastened them at her girdle.
The act had no significance in my fathers
eyes, but knew that from that moment
she was as surely pledged TO the Southern
Confederacy as was her valiant lover.
In few days came the news of the open
ing conflict on Missouri soil, in the battle Of
Boonville. My father was triumphant
Lyon had routed the State forces A
deathly pallor swept over my sisters face,
but she would ask no questions. Only those
who experienced the dread suspense which
those early battles eutaIled, can know the
agony which she endured during the sue
ceeding days until message came by the
hand OF ''little Bob II was this:
your token lies over my heart. We lost
camp jackson but we whipped the Home
Guards at Warsaw Now we have arms and
horses. Forward to glory Your tr'le knight
Will yet win his bride. RICHARD
In the enlistment of Southern troops in
Missouri there WAS little OF the pageantry
OF war to captivate the senses There were
no uniforms with gilded buttons and stars
of gold to dazzle the eve. Nothing TO dis
tinguish the officer from his subordinate,
save bit OF red flannel, or piece Of cotton
cloth fastened TO his shoulder or his sleeve
They had no muster rolls; they slept under
the blue canopy OF heaven, fed upon the
growing corn ami turned their worn out
horses to feed upon the wild prairie grass
as in some rare frolic which all too soon be-
came tragic. This encounter with the Home
Guards encouraged the somewhat disheart-
ened volunteers. Then came the news that
Ben McCulloch, with his Texan Rangers,
was on his way TO their relief and their ex-
ultation knew no bounds
The sultry days Of July were full of fore
bodng TO the Union men. The disaster az
Bull Run had given Outspoken bravado to
the seces iionists, knowing that the greater
part OF the force under Lyon, opposed 10
the State forces, was composed OF three
months men, whose term of service would
soon expire. The Unionis's placed their
great hope upon the convention which they
had called for the purpose OF deposing
General Jackson. My father was no half
way Union man. Once in, he was in heart
and soul, and when Lyons p;t,ful appeals
to his superiors ia command for reinforce
ments northumberland my father announced
bis intention OF gong with a squad of
Onion men to offer their lives, II need be,
to save Missouri.
1t was no time for tears as he announced
this decision, as we must prepare what
was necessary for his departure that very
day. Again the long shrill whistle OF the
steamboat smote our expeetant ears aud
my father came in to say farewell.
II am going with you, father,n said Jane.
''You, child What can you doi II is
no place for women, said my father.
"But | am going, father, with you, OF
without you. Where there is fighting there
must be nurses. | am going.n
Her calm elaboration was so like his
own that he seemed unable to offer any re-
monstrance At last he said:
''But We may be compelled TO go out oil
the State to pursue our enemy.n
VERY well, / will go Also" was all sh,
SAID.
Whether she would go in the ranks ol
the pursued, or the pnrsuer, seemed mat
ter OF doubt in my mind, for was sure
that Richards safety was as much part
OF her plan as was the welfare OF our dear
father.
Now, / stood alone on the bluff and saw
father and sister borne away, as she and
had before watched the rebel volunteers
but there was no glory of sunlight now A
drzzling rain was falling, and cold chill
like the days OF early autumn. bad. sue
ceeded the sultry weather, although it was
only the first of August. The Missouri
river was now unobstructed as Fedora
highway, and short time sufflced to reaci
the forces under Lyon and Sigel, who hat
Just called their council of war, determined
to give the rebels battle before their owl
forces were depleted by the retirement o.
the ninety-days men. The rich section o.
country upon which the two armies wer,
encamped neither was disposed to abandon
8, A battle was inevitable. The mornin,
which opened upon the bloody battle o
Wilson's Creek found my sister in charg
OF department OF hospital supplies, Will
my father was commissioned as surgeon
Only the God OF battles might foretel
upon that fatsful Friday what should be tn
outcome Theheavy LEAKAGE OF midsumme
hid from each the opposing forces, and no